Final answer:
In glycolysis, the enzyme phosphoglycerate mutase shifts a phosphate group from the third carbon to the second carbon of 3-Phosphoglycerate, creating 2-Phosphoglycerate. This reaction is a critical step in the production of ATP and overall glycolysis process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transformation of (2) 3-Phosphoglycerate (3C) into (2) 2-Phosphoglycerate (3C) occurs in the eighth step of glycolysis. The enzyme responsible for this reaction is phosphoglycerate mutase. This enzyme facilitates the movement of a phosphate group from the third carbon of 3-Phosphoglycerate to the second carbon, resulting in the production of 2-Phosphoglycerate. This process is an isomerization reaction, meaning the structural arrangement of the molecule changes, but the molecular formula remains the same.
This reaction is important because it prepares the molecule for the subsequent dehydration reaction to form phosphoenolpyruvate. This step is necessary for the glycolytic pathway to progress, ultimately yielding ATP which compensates for the energy investment earlier in the pathway.